Feeler-motion for looms.



Si. H. SALULHJ.

FEHLER mmm Loom.,

y UNITED .sT-Arne retenir oFFion.

` EUGENE H. IBALLOU, OF PAW'TUKET, RHOEF; ISiiAll'i'), AEiSG-NOR TO DRAPER CORO- RATION, OE I-OPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, It {IORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELERMOTION FOR LDMF Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. et, tinta Application led March 7, 1917. Serial No. 53,162.

To ZZ 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that EUGENE H. BALLoU, a citizen of the United` States, residing at Pawtucket, county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Feelei--Motions for Looms, of which the following description, in connection .with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention 'to behereinafter described relates-to feeler motions' for looms, wherein the shuttle has behausted, a jtrain of mechanism is rendered effective to change the operative condition of the loom; This change in the operative condition of the loom may and usually does result in replenishment of filling, either by the substitution of a shuttle containing a working supply of filling for the one in which the 4filling has become substantially exhausted, or byreplacing the filling carrier or bobbin in thehshuttle, by one having a fresh supply of filling thereon.

Yln that type of feeler motions wherein the feeler has-a detect-ing movement relative to the filling carrier or bobbin in the shuttle when' he filling becomes substantially exhauste but is held from such detecting movement by engagement of the feeler with the filling on `each detecting beat until suhstantial exhaustion is reached. it is impor- .'tant that the feeler engage the filling on each detecting beat with suflicient pressure to enable the filling to hold the feelei from detecting movement so long as a working supply is present in the shuttle. It is also essential that the feeler partake of its detet-ting moven'ient when the critical point of filling exhaustion occurs, otherwise the loom ma)v continue to run until the filling is completelyexhausted and cause a defect inthe n clo t h by a partial pick of filling being laid 'An.-,important feature of the present iniventioii'.' therefore. consisis of a feeleiand stance of the invention as of the. rotary type and has connected thereto a part which causes initiation of filling replenishment. or

other change in the loom condition when,

on a` detecting beat of the lay, the feelcr is rotated or rocked about its longitudinal axis.

Other important features of the present invention in addition to those above-noted will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawing .showing one good forni' of means for carrying the invention into practical eti'ect, itbeing unn derstood that. details may be varied without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view ot' a feeler mecha` nisin containing the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the lint` 2 2 ot Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the feeler mechanism, with the casing or stand shown in section.

The fee/ler stand or support may be of any desired construction suitable .for sustaining the parts of the feeler motion, and in the present instance of the invention comprises a stand 1 which may be appropriately secured to the loom frame or other support b v suitable means, such as the boltsX which pass thiiough the usual elongated slots provided iii the side'pdrtiou fthe feeleil stand.

Mounted on the feeler stand l is a slide f2, which, for purposes of identification, may be termed the relieving slide. The relieving slide. Q is under the influence of a spring i, uhichl. in the present 'instance of the inveir tion, surrounds the stein of the slide within the feelcr stand and has one end resting against lthe inner front wall of the. feeler stand and the other against a shoulder 2i* formed on the slide, the construction being such that the spring normally acts to hold the relieving slide 2 in rearward position,

liti

-The relieving slide 2 is preferably ing Tythe eonslrm-lmn as `indicated in Figs. l and 3. flattened rearwardly of the spring 3 and has an upwardly extending portion 4t from which side pieces 5 project rearwardly. The rear portions of the side pieces 5 are connected by a. bridge 15 in which .is adjustably mounted the contact member 6 adapted at times to be engaged by a part carried by the lay to move the relieving slide frontwardly against the force', of the spring 8, for a purpose that will presently appear.

The feeler stand carries the feeler which is adapted to feel for the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat and be moved frontwardly thereby. In addition to 'its frontward movement, the feeler has a detecting movement in a different direction, but is held from such detecting movementon each detecting beat by engagement-,with the filling in the shuttle, until the filling is substantially exhausted and thereupon performs its detecting movement and initiates replenishment of filling.V In the present instance of the invention, the feeler comprises a part substantially S mounted for longitudinal and rotative or rocking movementin the bearing 7 rising from the feeler stand and the bearing 7X carried by the relieving slide i2. Extending from the rear of the part 8 of the feeler is the part 9 from which projects the filling engaging end of the feeler lia-ving the teeth 10 or other roughened character.

Mounted upon the feeler is an arm 11 carrying a roller 12 which, when the feeler in its rearward position as indicated by Figs. 1 and .is adapted to rest upon the raised portion 1l of a track or guideway 1? and prevent rotative or rocking movement of the feeler. The raised portion 1-1 and the track 13 are connected by an incline or cam surface 15. ln the present instance of the invention the arm 11 is connected di rectly to the part S of the feeler b v the hub portion 2f) of the arm which may be adjusta'blysecured to the part S by the set screw 21, and the arm has connected thereto or formed integral therewith the hook 16 adapted to engage a controller 17 and initiate filling replenishment, when, on frontward movement of the feeler. the arm 11 and perforce, the hook lf3 are turned or rocked into position to 'engage the controller, as will more fully appear.

The fe'eler normally under the influence of a vielding means, such as a spring, for

holding the feeler in rearward position with the roller 1Q resting on the raised portion 1l of the track. lnl the vpresent instance of the invention, a spring 1S is mounted on the part 8 of the feeler, one end of the spring bearing against the hub portion 21 of the arm 11l and the other end against the bearbeing|` such that the ,sp1-ing nol'lllallv :lets to hohl the iifclti in its rear position, as indicated in 1 and 3, with the toothed end of the feeler rearward of the contact member 6 and the rear end of the part 8 resting against the front surface 22l the lay, the feeler will be moved frontwardly against the yielding action of the s ring 18, thereby moving the roller 12 from t e raised portion 14 of the track 13, and the contact member 6 may then engage the front wall -of the shuttle or shuttle-box or other part mounted on the lay and also' be moved to l the front, accordin to the relative positions of the adjustale contact member and end 10 of the feeler. g lVhen a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, the spring 18 Will cause the feeler endl() to sink into the mass of filling with sufficient force to prevent rotative or roekingfmove mentV of the feeler about its longitudinal axis when the roller 12 is moved from the raised portion 14 of the track, and the hook 16 will move to the front in a path of nonintersection with the controller. As the filling is drawn fromthe shuttle on each succeeding pick, the mass of filling opposed. to the feeler becomes progressively less and less and the feeler enters fartherand farther into the shuttle, until, when the filling has approached or reached substantial exhaustion, the contact member 6 will engage'the part carried by the lay and be moved frontwardly in advance of the frontward movement of the feeler, dueto itsengagement with the filling or bobbin in the shuttle, and the feeler will be moved frontwardly by the bridge 15 before the full force of the feeler spring 18 asserts itself against the filling or Dobbins, thereby relieving .the pressure of Athe feeler against the filling or bobbin and insuring its detecting movement. Thus. during the presence of a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting'heat, the fulll force of the feeler actuating spring is transmitted through the feeler to the filling and insures sufficient pressure of the feeler against the filling to hold the-feeler from its detecting movementv as the lay beats up, but when the fi-lling' has become substantially exhausted and it is desirable to have the feeler perform its detecting movement to initiate. filling replenishmei'it. the pressure of the feeler against the filling or hobbin is' relieved. to an extent sufficient to insure detecting'movement of the feeler.

ln the present instance of the invention the detecting movement of the feeler is one of rotation or partial rotation about its longitudinal axis, that. when `the roller lf2 moved from the raised portion 1i of lSO the track andsuch movement is effected upon substantial' exhaustion of tilting m the shuttle, the hoot: 16 is moved into position to engage and actuate the controller 17 as the4 feeler is moved to the front. The Weight of the arm 11 may be sutlicient to insure rotative movement of the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, but-this may be assisted in some cases by giving to the spring 18 a torsional action tending also to turn or rota-te the feeler. In such case one end of the spring at 23 may be secured to the hub of the arm 1l and the other end 24 to the tixed bearing 7, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

After adetecting movement of the fecler l and as it is moved 4rearvvardly again into feeling position by the ieeier spring, the

lroller 12 will ride up the incline 15 of the track and rock or rotate the feeler to its initial or set position.

When the controller' has been actuated to.I` initiate filling replenishment, it should be reset .or brought back to initial position, as the feeler returns to feeling position as de-\ scribed, and to this end the relieving slide 2 has an arm 19 extending therefrom, which, as the said slide and feeler return to initial position after anv indication for replenishment, engages the controller 17, Figs. 2 andi 3, and moves the controller to its initial position ready for another actuation by the tecler.

Claims: f

l. in a feeler motion for looms, the connl bination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle and be moved frontwardly as the lav beats up, means tending to rock the teleler about its longitudinal axis when it is moved frontwardly'and prevented from effecting such movement by engagement of the teeler With they filling until substantial exhaustion, feeler pressure relieving means when the feeler is in rear position and freeing the ltl'eeler to Asuch rotativemovement when away from the rear position.

A feeler motion for looms,.comp rising, incombination, afeeler mounted for rotative movement'about. its longitudinal axis,

means normallyV te/nding'to rotatev the feeler on av detecting beat and held from el'ecting such rotative movement by feeler engagement with the filling until substantial ex 'haustioin means movable frontivardly by engagen'1ent"\vith the lshuttle and acting to mov'e the feeler frontivardly to relieve the feele'r pressure when on a detecting beat the filling has reached a predetermined degree of exhaustion, and means for preventingrotative movement of the fceler when in its rearward position and becoming ineffective ward positionand freeing it to rotative' movement- \vhen the feeler is moved from rearward position, and a relieving member engaged by the shuttle and acting to move the 'Feeler frontivardly for relieving the pressure of he feeler against the bobiiin in the shuttle when the filling is substantially "exhausted on a detecting beat that the teeler may be rotated.-

5. In a feeler mot-ion forlooms, the combination ot the lav and shuttle-boxes, a feeler to engage and be moved frontwardly 'by the filling in the shuttle on a4 detecting beat,` means normally acting upon thef'eeler to rotate it about its longitudinal axis when adapted toengage a part movable with the it is moved frontwardly and prevented lfrom lav for relieving the pressure of the teeler effecting such rotative movement bjvthe against the filling carrier on a detecting 'b eat pressure of the feeler against tire filling when the filling has approached substantial `until substantial exhaustion thereof, a reexhaustion, -and means for preventing rock- `lieving member,- means normally acting to ing movement of the feeler when it isinA hold the relievingmember in rearward posirearward position and becoming ineffective tion as the feeler is moved frontwardly and when the 'teeler is moved frontwardly on a operating to move the feeler trontwardly detecting beat. r when on a detecting beat the 'filling is sub 9. In a feeler motion for looms. the combination ot' a feeler mounted for .longitudinal and rotative movements and held'from sueh rotative movement as it is moved lonstantiallv exhausted.

(i. ln a teeler motion for looms. a feeler, means tending to rotate the teeler abontits longitudinal axis and prevented from cli'ect# ,the

gitudinally b v engagement with thefilling ing such movement b v engagement ot' the Auntil substantial exhaustion thereof, a part teele-r with the illing until substantial exmounted for movement fronrwardlv indeliaustion. a feeler pressure relieving device pendent of the feeler and adapted to move movable frontwardlv independent oi teeler feeler frontivardly before the full feeler movement and acting to move the fceler ire is exerted in the filling carrier ft'rontwardlvv when the filling reaches aprefthe filling has reaelufl a predeterdetermined degree of exhaustion Jfor reliev' mined degree -ot exhaustion. and :means for ing the pressure ofthe feeler against the fillhgl'ding the teeler from rotative movement .ingor bobbin that the means tending-to-1'o` tate the feeler may be effect-ive, land means controlledby the feeler` for initiating filling replenishment.

" mentsand heldI from such rotative or rockinOfv` movement on a filling Iinthe shuttle when a working supply is present, ntie-ans y rockinginovement of the feeler when it is in rear or'baclr position and freeing the feeler e tol i"o tative' or rocking movement under controlof the filling when the feeler is moved favvavv from rear or back ymounted for reciprocating movement independent'of the teeler and adapted to be operated bv a part on thelay for relieving the pressure of the' feele'r against the filling when, on a detecting beat, the filling is subexhausted and the feeler is to be rotated or rocked.y 1

8, In a,'feeler motion for looms, the com- .binationfof the lav, a feeler 'adapted to be moved frontn'ar'dly bv the filling on a de tecting beat, means tending to rotate the i feelei vvh'en moved frontvvardly and prelso ` filling until Substantial vented from effecting such movement bv the lexhaustion Ithereof, a relieving member, said feeler and relieving members being mounted for relative independent reciprocating movements, means ,for actuating the relieving member toy ref lieve the pressure'against the filling carrier,

vvhen the filling is Isubstantialliv exhausted thatthe means tending to rotate vthe feeler may be effective, and means for initiating filling replenishment.

9. n a yfeeler mechanism for looms, a feeler having arotarv detecting movement but. held from said detecting movement by engagement vvith the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, aV relievin d member. said yfeeler and relieving mem er being mounted forrelative movement toward and from the front of the loom, a part carried bv ,the relieving member to` engage the feeler on-a,y detecting beat when filling is substantiallv exhausted to relieve the pressure of lthe feeler against the surfacevvithin the `shuttle that the feeler may partake of its `rotarlv detecting movement.

10. In a teeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeleradapted to be moved frontvvardlv on a detecting beat and having a rotary detecting movementivhen the filling is substantially exhausted` but held from yftial exhaustion of filling means acting' to vieldinglv hold the'feeler,

f i saidl detecting movement by engagement with the filling in lthe shuttle until substan-` has been reached,

in rear position, and4 means inounted for reciprocatinginiovement independent of the l f feeler' and having@ .a part rendered4 effective detecting beat of thev for preventing rotative ory position, meansV A track or guidevvav, rotative movement "rear position but freeing it to such moveby entrance of the feeler farther into the shuttle when the filling is ,substantially exhausted to lrelieve the pressure of the feeler against the filling or bobbin under the inipulse of the yieldingly acting means.

11. In a feeler motion for looms, the coinvbination of a feeler adapted to be moved frontvvardhY on a detecting beat and havin a rot-ary detecting movement when the fil ing is substantially exhausted but held from said detecting movement by engagement vvitli the filling in the shuttle until substan tial exhaustion of filling has been reached, a member movable toward the front of the loom on a detecting beat independently of the fet-ler, and a part actuated by said meinber to move the feeler frontvvardly before .thefull feeler pressure has been exerted against the filling or bobbin vvhen the filling is substantially exhausted.

1Q. In a teeler motion for looms, the coinbination of a feeler adapted to be moved frontvvardlyv on a detecting beat and having a rotary d etecting movement about its longitudiiial axis when the filling is substantially exhausted but held from said detecting movement bv engagement With the filling in the shuttle until substantial exhaustion of filling has been reached, a member mounted independent of the feeler, means for tvieldiiiglv forcing the said member rearwardly but permitting it to be moved frontwardlv on a detecting beat, said feeler and member having parts adapted to be engaged to effect movement of the fecler frontvvardly before the full 'feeler pressure is exerted on the filling or bobbin when, on av detecting beat, the filling is substantialljv exhausted.

` 13. In a teeler motion for looms, the. combination of a tcelein means for turning the fecler `about its longitudinal axis and prevented froin effecting sucli movement on a detecting beatA by engagement of the feeler yvvith the filling until. substantial*exhaustion thereof. a track Ipoition or guidevvav having a raised at the rear thereof, a roller connected to the feeler and traveling on said said ioller preventing of the feeler when in nient when moved aivav from said position, and means for initiating filling` replenishment. e l' la. A 4feeler mechanism `for looms, comprising, in combination. a feelcr'having a iotarv detecting,movement about its longitudinal axis, a Irelieving member mounted independentlv of the fceler and having a i partagainst which the teelermav rest when in`r'earmost position and from vvliich it is "moved when a working supply' of filling is present on'a detecting beat', and means car ried bv the lay for moving the relieving member frontvvardlv in advance of the neeaeee feeler on a detecting beat 'to cause said part to engage the eeler and move it fronttvardly before the full feeler p rassure is exerted against the carrier and permit rotary detecting movement of the feeler.

. 15. In a i'eeler mot-ion for looms, the combination of a' feeler adapted to be moved frontwardly on a detecting beat and having a rotary detecting movement but held from such detecting movement by engagement with the i'illing until substantial exhaustion thereof` afeeler pressure relieving member having a part to engage and more the feeler frontwardly before the full teeler pressure is exerted .on the filling or bobbin when the lling is substantially exhausted, a controlier actuated by the feeler when, on aV detect* ing beat, the teeler detect-s substantial eX- haustion of filling, and means movable by the feeler pressure relieving member to return the controller to initial position.

l 16. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler having a reciprocating and a rotary movement, an arm projecting from the feeler and having a hook, a controller adapted to be actuated b v the frontward movement oitl the hook when the feeler is' permitted rotary movement by substantial exhaustion of filling on a detecting beat to operatively position the hook, and means operating by return movement ofthe feeler tofeeling position for returning the controller to initial position.

In testimony whereof, have name to this speeication.

EUGENE H. BALLOU.

signed my 

